Shoe-La-La! (Shoe-La-La! #1)

"Party dresses, party hair.../ Need new party shoes to wear./ Emily, Ashley, Kaitlyn, Claire!/ Let's go find the perfect pair!" Four young gal pals (who are also conveniently unaccompanied minors) wreak havoc at the eponymous shoe store, a boutique run by a mustachioed man who proves no match for this enthusiastic quartet. When they still come up empty-handed (footed?) after turning the boutique upside down, the budding fashionistas turn savvy frugalistas, creating fabulous decorations for the shoes they already have. The premise inspires mostly literal, listy descriptions from Beaumont (Doggone Dogs!): "Shoes with zippers, / Shoes with straps, / Shoes with buckles, / Shoes with taps"). But Pham (Bedtime for Mommy) carries the day. Flying her girly flag proudly in pages dominated by pink, peach, and purple, she gives each of her characters an entire repertoire of divaesque emotions and outfits (along the way, these "Glamour Girls" channel everyone from brides-to-be and flappers to figures like Annie Oakley, Jem, and Audrey Hepburn), and makes palpable the adrenaline rush that only a great retail experience can provide. Ages 48. (Jan.) Copyright 2010 Publishers Weekly Used with permission.

PreS-K—In another frothy paean to nearly every little girl's inner fashionista, a quartet of young girlfriends dash impulsively to a local store in search of perfect party shoes. (No parents ever appear on the scene, but a small leashed dog accompanies them throughout and offers amusing comic relief.) Simple, rhyming text describes their visit to "Shoe-la-la," where a dignified, mustachioed salesman waits on them hand and, er, foot as they try on a seemingly infinite variety of styles. "Fancy ribbons, frilly lace. Shoe-la-la! We love this place!" At day's end, the girls have shopped 'til they drop—the beleaguered clerk is flat on his back under a mountain of shoes—and still can't make up their minds. Decamping to one of their homes, they pull out four pairs of decidedly age-appropriate little girl shoes from a closet (all flats, no stilettos) and set to work gussying them up with assorted ribbons, beads, and other craft supplies. The girls' own considerable creativity saves the day—and their feet—as they set off for their party. The sparkly jacket is an irresistible draw, depicting the girls vamping in dress-up clothes and high heels, as are the humorously expressive, cartoonlike illustrations rendered in full-color with lots of girl-pleasing pink and purple. Pure fun, with a practical message, this title will appeal to the legions of "Fancy Nancy" fans and not sit on any shelf.—Kathleen Finn, St. Francis Xavier School, Winooski, VT

Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.